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2016 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Civic years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Honda Civic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 183.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

494 reports with mileage · 586 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 444 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

36 crash reports4 fire reports13 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

27 reports
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46,493 miles · Mar 12, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY LAST NIGHT AFTER WORK, MY CAR DASH LIT UP WITH ALERTS, ONE AFTER ANOTHER. I TRIED TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND THE LIGHTS DID NOT GO AWAY. THEY ARE STILL ON TODAY. THEY WERE EMISSIONS SYSTEM PROBLEM, BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM, BRAKE HOLD SYSTEM PROBLEM, POWER STEERING SYSTEM (EPS) PROBLEM, VEHICL…

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WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY LAST NIGHT AFTER WORK, MY CAR DASH LIT UP WITH ALERTS, ONE AFTER ANOTHER. I TRIED TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND THE LIGHTS DID NOT GO AWAY. THEY ARE STILL ON TODAY. THEY WERE EMISSIONS SYSTEM PROBLEM, BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM, BRAKE HOLD SYSTEM PROBLEM, POWER STEERING SYSTEM (EPS) PROBLEM, VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) PROBLEM, AND HILL START ASSIST PROBLEM. I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE ALERTS. I WILL TRY TO UPLOAD A PICTURE.

NHTSA ODI #11186243

13,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringWheels

FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICS AND THEY SAY ITS THROWING CODES FOR ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND THE ELECTRIC PARKING BREAK BUT 3 DEALERSHIPS SAY THE VEHICLE IS FINE

NHTSA ODI #11122685

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE CAR HAS COMPUTER SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND HONDA HAS TRIED A NUMBER OF TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM OVER A TWO YEAR SPAN BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO

NHTSA ODI #11104801

26,000 miles · Jun 27, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or OtherWheelsCrash

THE FRONT WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF..THROWING CODES FOR STABILITY MALFUNCTION ASSIST, ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING..I HAVE BEEN TREATED AWFUL BY 3 HONDA DEALERSHIP AND I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THIS VEHICLE THAT I'M GOING TO DIE IN..BRUSH GUARD FELL DOWN BEING HELD WITH BAILING TWINE

NHTSA ODI #11104179

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

RANDOMLY I RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING ERROR MESSAGE ON MY SCREEN WHEN STARTING MY CAR, "BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM". THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO REMOVE THE ERROR IS TO START WITH MY CAR IN PARK, AND MOVE FROM R, N, D, S, L, AND BACK UP TO PARK AGAIN. THEN I PRESS THE BREAK HOLD ON, THEN BREAK HOLD OFF, PARKING BREAK ON, THEN PARKING BREAK OFF, …

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RANDOMLY I RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING ERROR MESSAGE ON MY SCREEN WHEN STARTING MY CAR, "BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM". THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO REMOVE THE ERROR IS TO START WITH MY CAR IN PARK, AND MOVE FROM R, N, D, S, L, AND BACK UP TO PARK AGAIN. THEN I PRESS THE BREAK HOLD ON, THEN BREAK HOLD OFF, PARKING BREAK ON, THEN PARKING BREAK OFF, TURN OFF THE CAR, THEN TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND THE ERROR GOES AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE I LEASED THE CAR IN 2016 AND HAPPENED THREE TIMES JUST IN THIS MONTH. ALWAYS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP A NUMBER OF TIMES AND LETTING THEM KNOW OF THE ISSUE THEY NOW RUN A FULL DIAGNOSTICS THAT MY WARRANTY IS OUT AND THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH A BAD CELL IN THE BATTERY. SO EITHER THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE ELECTRICAL BREAK SYSTEM OR THE BATTERIES IN THE 2016 HONDA CIVICS ARE BAD. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11091170

9,500 miles · Feb 22, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

A RODENT CRAWLED UP INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CHEWED UP THE WIRES TO COIL CONNECTOR. IT MADE ALL OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON AND THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING DUE TO THE MIS-FIRING COIL. IT IS HONDA FAULT BECAUSE THEY COVERED/MADE THE WIRES WITH SOY, WHICH ATTRACTS RODENTS. MY 2016 CIVIC IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD…

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A RODENT CRAWLED UP INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CHEWED UP THE WIRES TO COIL CONNECTOR. IT MADE ALL OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON AND THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING DUE TO THE MIS-FIRING COIL. IT IS HONDA FAULT BECAUSE THEY COVERED/MADE THE WIRES WITH SOY, WHICH ATTRACTS RODENTS. MY 2016 CIVIC IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD WITH 9,500 MILES, HONDA CLAIMS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. HONDA THEN, WANTED TO SELL ME A $500 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, THIS IS RIDICULES, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE RODENTS WILL BE ATTRACTED TO THE NEW WIRE HARNESS TOO. THEY ALSO WANTED TO SELL ME SPICY RODENT TAPE FOR $48, THIS IS A SCAM, HONDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, THEY WILL BE LOSING LOYAL CUSTOMERS. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11074374

39,000 miles · Dec 13, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

SOYBEAN WIRING ATTRACTING ANIMALS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 1 YEAR AND IT HAS HAPPEND TWICE WITH OVER 6,000 WORTH OR DAMAGE. LOCKED BRAKES, STEERING, ELECTRICAL . A CHILD RIDES IN THE CAR, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT WAS NEVER EXPLAINED TO ME. PULLED OVER TO PARK. AFTER TRYING TO RESTART MY VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START EVEN WITH A J…

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SOYBEAN WIRING ATTRACTING ANIMALS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 1 YEAR AND IT HAS HAPPEND TWICE WITH OVER 6,000 WORTH OR DAMAGE. LOCKED BRAKES, STEERING, ELECTRICAL . A CHILD RIDES IN THE CAR, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT WAS NEVER EXPLAINED TO ME. PULLED OVER TO PARK. AFTER TRYING TO RESTART MY VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START EVEN WITH A JUMP ALL SYSTEMS, BRAKES STEERING LOCKED.

NHTSA ODI #11054411

9,870 miles · Jul 26, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

ENGINE EATEN BY RATS 2 TIMES; ENGINE HARNESS DESTROYED FIRST TIME; CAR HASN'T BEEN THE SAME SINCE THIS; FOUND MORE RAT DROPPINGS IN THE ENGINE; CAR SHAKES SO BAD THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF CAR IS NOT STABLE ON ANY ROAD; ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN DONE 4 TIMES ON VEHICLE STILL NOT ALIGNED; HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TI…

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ENGINE EATEN BY RATS 2 TIMES; ENGINE HARNESS DESTROYED FIRST TIME; CAR HASN'T BEEN THE SAME SINCE THIS; FOUND MORE RAT DROPPINGS IN THE ENGINE; CAR SHAKES SO BAD THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF CAR IS NOT STABLE ON ANY ROAD; ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN DONE 4 TIMES ON VEHICLE STILL NOT ALIGNED; HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES THEY TELL ME ITS THE ROAD; CAR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY; WHEN TURN ON CAR IT SHAKES FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES UNTIL WARMED UP. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11010714

12,000 miles · Apr 28, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or OtherFire

I PRESSED MY AUTOMATIC START KEY FROM THE WINDOW OF THE BUILDING , WHILE I WAS GETTING READY ,(WASHING MY FACE, BRUSHING TEETH) AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS LATER I HEARD THE SOUND OF THE ALARM , WHICH WOULD USUALLY TURN ON IF THERE IS A HIT OR IMPACT OR LOUD SOUND . WHEN I CAME DOWNSTAIRS, ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES LATER . I NOTICED THE FRO…

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I PRESSED MY AUTOMATIC START KEY FROM THE WINDOW OF THE BUILDING , WHILE I WAS GETTING READY ,(WASHING MY FACE, BRUSHING TEETH) AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS LATER I HEARD THE SOUND OF THE ALARM , WHICH WOULD USUALLY TURN ON IF THERE IS A HIT OR IMPACT OR LOUD SOUND . WHEN I CAME DOWNSTAIRS, ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES LATER . I NOTICED THE FRONT WINDOW WAS SHATTERED , I FIGURED MAYBE ONE THE NEIGHBORS WAS PLAYING BALL AND HIT MY WINDOW, WHEN I OPENED MY DOOR I REALIZED THERE WAS A FIRE INSIDE COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE DASHBOARD, EVERYTHING WAS MELTED AND MY DASHBOARD WAS ALSO SUNK IN. I CHECKED IF THERE WAS AN OUTLET CONNECTED OR USB PORTS AND DID NOT FIND AN ANSWER. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP AND ONLY ADVICE THAT WAS GIVEN WAS TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE , THEY ALSO ADDED THEY WOULD NOT BE TAKING CARE OF ANY DAMAGES IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND ALSO DID NOT KNOW WHY, NOR WERE EVEN INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING. THE CAR WAS IN COMPLETE PARK MODE, AND OFF OVERNIGHT. NO ONE DESERVES TO TAKE THEIR SIBLINGS TO SCHOOL AND INSTEAD BE WELCOMED BY A MALFUNCTIONING DEFECTIVE 2016 YEAR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10981239

1,195 miles · Dec 26, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DRIVING THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH WHEN SUDDENLY ALL THE INDICATORS WENT BERSERK WITH 6 DIFFERENT PROBLEMS APPEARING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I WENT FROM 70 TO 40MPH WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING. I WENT TO THE SHOULDER TO STOP AND THESE PROBLEMS APPEARED: POWER STEERING SYSTEM (EPS), VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA), HILL START ASSIST, EMI…

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I WAS DRIVING THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH WHEN SUDDENLY ALL THE INDICATORS WENT BERSERK WITH 6 DIFFERENT PROBLEMS APPEARING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I WENT FROM 70 TO 40MPH WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING. I WENT TO THE SHOULDER TO STOP AND THESE PROBLEMS APPEARED: POWER STEERING SYSTEM (EPS), VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA), HILL START ASSIST, EMISSIONS SYSTEM, BRAKE SYSTEM AND BRAKE HOLD SYSTEM. IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME COZ THE CARS BEHIND ME STARTED HONKING AT BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN REDUCED SPEED. IT COULD'VE COST ME MY LIFE! IT WAS ONLY AT 1195MILES WHEN THAT HAPPENED AND DID NOTHING THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE DEFECTS. I AM ON A THREE YEAR LEASE AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN LESS THAN 2MONTHS SINCE I HAD THE CAR. I DON'T WANT THAT CAR ANYMORE SO IF YOU CANT GIVE ME ANOTHER ONE (WITHOUT ADDITIONAL COSTS), THEN I WOULD WANT A FULL REFUND AND CANCEL MY LEASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10937498

Official recalls

5

26V332000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger

May 21, 2026

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 18, 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

16V725000 · Parking Brake

Oct 11, 2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Civic two door and four door 1.5L turbo and 2.0L vehicles. The electric parking brake (EPB) may not engage if it is applied immediately after turning the ignition off.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to allow the EPB to engage immediately after the ignition is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KC6.

16V526000 · Exterior Lighting

Jul 11, 2016

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic 2-Door vehicles manufactured February 23, 2016, through May 20, 2016. The affected vehicles may have a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly, making the marker light inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If a side marker light does not function, vehicle visibility can be decreased to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both the taillight assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KB8.

16V074000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Feb 9, 2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic vehicles manufactured September 22, 2015, to February 3, 2016 and equipped with 2.0L engines. The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the Summer of 2016. Owners were mailed an interim notification beginning March 31, 2016, and will be mailed a second notice when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JX9.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Honda Civic problems